Parents’ cell phone discovery leads to child sex charges against Sparta man in Washington County

The parents of an underage child gave the juvenile’s cell phone to Washington County, Tennessee, authorities, who charged a 19-year-old Sparta man with a child sex crime.

The information released on Cody Murdock alleges the suspect knew the age of the victim when he prompted her to perform sexual acts over the phone using SnapChat and requested nude photos.

Murdock was escorted back to Jonesborough and is charged with one count of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.

(MUGSHOT: Released to media for online use by WCSO TN)